RE: Java and Visual Basic, how to learn?

Loyd,

I would like to suggest looking at your local community college or 4-year
college for courses on  either VB or JAVA.  Having tried the book approach
and seminar approach to VB and JAVA I have found that taking the college
courses gave me a better basic understanding of the language and provided a
contact to help get over any rough spots in learning the language.

It has been my experience that seminars provide a lot of high level
information but not enough nuts and bolts information for me.  Trying to
teach myself by reading books hasn't worked well because without a set
structure it is easy to get distracted by other seemingly more important
things.  Both methods are also light on hands-on practice of the concepts
they present.  For me, I need to get my hands dirty to really learn
something.  I don't, however, enjoy beating my head against a wall trying to
figure out why something sounds so easy in the book but I can't make it
work.

HTH,

Rick